Press Release: 4/9/2026
NEW DATA: Since Iran War Began, New England Families Have Paid $200+ More to Heat Their Homes
April 8, 2026
New Report Also Includes State-by-State Breakdown of Increased Heating Oil Costs in New England One Month into Trump’s War
WASHINGTON – New data from the Joint Economic Committee – Minority show that families in New England are paying at least $200 more to heat their homes with oil since President Trump launched his war with Iran. In all six New England states, families spent at least $200 more to heat their homes in March 2026 compared to March 2025, with the average New Hampshire family who uses heating oil spending $205 more, a 31 percent increase. As Americans shoulder higher utility bills, President Trump recently proposed eliminating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps hard-working families afford to heat their homes.
“President Trump’s war against Iran has contributed to higher home heating costs across New Hampshire and our region,” said Senator Maggie Hassan, Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee. “Today’s new report confirms what families have seen on their bills at home: a typical New England family paid at least $200 more for home heating oil last month compared to March 2025. This new data is further proof that as families seek relief, President Trump just keeps making life less affordable.”
To calculate increased costs, the Committee analyzed changes in New England’s home heating oil prices since President Trump launched the Iran War. State-by-state calculations show that the average family in the region that uses heating oil had to spend at least $200 more to heat their home than they did in March 2025.
Click here to see the full analysis and see the table of state-level data below.
State | % Increase in Home Heating Oil Cost in March 2026 vs March 2025 | $ Increase in Home Heating Oil Cost in March 2026 vs. March 2025 |
Connecticut | 39.6% | +$217 |
Maine | 32.3% | +$228 |
Massachusetts | 37.9% | +$224 |
New Hampshire | 31.4% | +$205 |
Rhode Island | 51.1% | +$288 |
Vermont | 32.9% | +$218 |
New England Average | 37.1% | +$230 |
Source: Weekly data on home heating oil costs from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, average temperature data from the National Weather Service, and industry data from heatable.com on the number of gallons of home heating oil used in the average home at various temperatures. | ||